In Rangely, Soroco boys basketball coach Andy Johnson said he sees a team very similar to his Rams. If Soroco, 2-1, is to climb into the top half of the Western Slope League this year, winning a game of equals will prove important.

“They’re in a very similar situation to us. They graduated a lot of their offensive firepower,” he said.

The Rams face off against the Panthers at 7 p.m. today at Soroco High School. Both teams enter the contest with something to prove. Rangely won its first game of the season Saturday by pounding De Beque. Before that, though, it had been five consecutive losses.

Soroco, meanwhile, beat Vail Mountain on Jan. 7, but spent the early portions of the season adjusting to a largely new group of starters.

“Definitely Hayden is out there establishing itself as the team to beat, but for the rest of us, it will be a real battle for the next three or four spots,” Johnson said. “This is a work in progress … but I’m pleased with where we’re at right now. If we come out and be solid offensive and defensively, we’ll definitely compete.”